Who does C. Thomas Howell play in 1923 Season 2?

Everyone knows to keep an eye out for familiar faces in the Yellowstone universe, and 1923 Season 2 sees ’80s star C. Thomas Howell join Taylor Sheridan’s world.

From Yellowstone to 1883, the Western TV franchise has included some very famous faces. There’s been Tom Hanks and Bella Hadid, and even some big names in rodeo and cowboying, like Billy Klapper and Bob Avila.

1923 keeps this trend going, with supporting characters played by the likes of Robert Patrick and Timothy Dalton.

But 1923 Season 2 has introduced a new character who helps Teonna along while she’s on the run, and if you watched any movie from the 1980s, then you’ll probably already know his face. (Warning: spoilers ahead!)

C. Thomas Howell’s character in 1923 explained

C. Thomas Howell plays Anders in 1923 Season 2, a lead cowboy who offers Runs His Horse and Teonna a place to stay in exchange for some work.

He first appears in Episode 3, when Runs His Horse approaches him to double check about them staying on his land. He agrees, and Runs His Horse makes a deal that he, Teonna, and Pete will help them push the cattle through the next morning.

They team-up, and Teonna’s group even gets to share some of their food when they reach the rodeo pens.

Paramount

Unfortunately, their fun is cut short when Teonna notices her wanted poster plastered everywhere, so she, Runs His Horse, and Pete make a run for it further north.

In Episode 5, Anders returns when Marshal Kent and Father Renaud search the town for information. Kent catches word from one of Anders’ cowboys that they were travelling with the group, which Anders denies.

Although he attempts to lie to protect Teonna, he soon changes his mind when he finds out that she murdered the nuns at the boarding school.

Then, he shows Kent and Renaud the rodeo pens where they last saw them, and gives them a vague idea of where they might be headed.

Where you’ve seen C. Thomas Howell before

C. Thomas Howell appeared in a lot of movies throughout the ’80s, so you probably know him from E.T, The Outsiders, Red Dawn, and Soul Man.

Soul Man, released in 1986, is now remembered as a hugely controversial movie in which Howell wore blackface to portray a young man who pretends to be Black in order to qualify for a college scholarship.

New World Pictures

He’s continued appearing in movies and TV shows until now, and his most recent big feature role was in Reagan, the 2024 biopic about Ronald Reagan.

On the TV side of things, he’s had supporting roles in ET, 24, Criminal Minds, Sons of Anarchy, and The Walking Dead.

For more, check out our guide to every Yellowstone spinoff. You can also learn about which of Taylor Sheridan’s cameos is the worst, and find out what’s out this month with our guide to all the new TV shows.